The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1887-08-05
More Corn for Fodder Needed.

Fodder corn follows grass in'rank as a
feeding crop, either green for summer
use or preserved as eusilage, or dried
and cured for the winter. 1t is one Of
the most prolific and nutritious plants
when it is properly grown and cultiva.-
ed. 1t has yielded from twenty flour to
forty tons of green, and five to eight
tons of cured fodder. It requires rich
land and good cultivation, however, to
make this yield, but on poor land, help
ed by artificial fertilizers, very profit
able yield can. he made. In such case
a poor, sandy farm, which was badly
run down, produced twenty.four tons
of Evergreen Sweet Corn with six hun
dred pounds of special corn manure to
the acre; and twelve tons per acre of
Early Narragansett Sweet Corn. 1t is
quite possible to grow both Of these
crops on the same ground, the same
season, for the early corn will be ready
for cutting in fifty days from plan ting.
and the later kind planted in July will
mature in September; thus giving thir.
ty six tons Of green fodder, or eight of
cured fodder per acre. 1t is this rapid
growth which makes this crop SO valu.
able.
Fodder corn has acquired poor rep
utation, by reason of the mistaken man.
uer of growing it, viz: by broadcasting
the seed at the rate of two or three
bushels per acre, by which the crop is
SO crowded that it makes white, wat
cry, rank forage, quite devoid of nutri
ment, and worth but little more than
wood shavings. Cows have been known
to reject fodder thus grown, which is a
convincing proof of their natural sagac-
ity.
When grown in rows, three feet
apart, and with four to six seeds drop
ped eighteen inches apart, the fodder
is entirely different. tits green in COL
or, mature in its growth, full of sweet
ness; aud a large proportion of the
stalks will have ears in what is known
as the roasting stage, and as the fodder
is cured, these may be dried, if the pro,
per precautions are taken in the curing.
Over ten thousand ears of sweet corn,
fit for market, per acre, have been tax
en- from acrop of Evergreen Sweet Corn,
and this product gathered and sold from
farms near large cities, is exceedingly
valuable, frequently selling for dollar
and half per one hundred ears; and if
late in the season, and of good size, for
nearly or quite twice as much. Thus
this crop is a very useful one for dairy
men, who are near market for this
kind of truck.
The crop is cultivated precisely as
field corn is. At the time for cutting,
which is when the ears are in the milk,
the corn is cut close to the ground in
the usual manner, and left for two or
three days to wilt. tits then bound in
small sheaves of about twenty stalks in
each, with bands of rye straw, and is
set up in small stacka, and bound Sc
curely at the top, the bottom being
spread to admit the air. 1t is thus left
until the stalks are quite dry and the
ears shruuken; when it is put up in
small stacks of about one thousand
bundles or less, built around q frame,
made like three ladders meeting at the
top and spreading at the bottom, by
which air is admitted into the centre OF
the stack, and mildew prevented.
When fed green, the stalks arc cut up
in q fodder cutter with the ears, and
make a most valuable food for the COWS.
They are very productive of milk Of
good quality. Sweet CORN ears. in the
cooking stage, make excellent food for
butter.making cows, and the butter is
of fine favor and quality.
In growing the second crop, the land
is plowed as fast rs the hrst one is re
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